The Atlanta Falcons are in a rebuilding mode after trading their longtime quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. Matt Ryan had been the quarterback for the Falcons since 2008 and now they will have a new starting quarterback in Marcus Mariota this year.
The rebuild further developed when the team traded wide receiver Russell Gage and then last year Julio Jones. Additionally, Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the upcoming year. This team needed a wide receiver and they got their guy early in the NFL draft.
The Falcons used the eighth pick in the draft to select Drake London from the University of Southern California. London is a big wide receiver who has been compared to Michael Thomas due to his size and ability to rack up targets over the middle of the field. In his last year at USC he had 1,084 receiving yards with 88 catches and seven touchdowns.
He should make a good combo with Kyle Pitts, the second-year tight end. Both of them could be really good together for a long time.
This could be Mariota’s last shot at being an NFL starting quarterback. He now has some weapons to make for a pretty good young offense as Mariota is still just 28-years-old.
Photo Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mariota_watching_offense_from_the_sidelines_on_October_13,_2019_in_4th_quarter_against_Denver_Broncos.jpg
